Begonia plant named ‘Maren Top’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Maren Top’, characterized by its compact, upright and rounded plant habit; double flowers that are pink in color and held above and beyond the foliage; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Begonia×hybrida cultivarMaren Top.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known asElatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Maren Top’.

The new Begonia was discovered by the Inventor in a controlledenvironment in Gönnebek, Germany, in 1996, as a naturally-occurringwhole plant mutation of Begonia×hiemalis ‘Margarete’, not patented. Thenew Begonia was observed as a single flowering plant within a populationof flowering plants of the cultivar Margarete. The selection of thisplant was based on its unique flower coloration.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Gönnebek, Germany, since 1997 has shown thatthe unique features of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Maren Top’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Maren Top’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Maren Top’ as a new and distinct Begoniacultivar:

1. Compact, upright and rounded plant habit.

2. Freely branching growth habit.

3. Double flowers that are pink in color and held above and beyond thefoliage.

4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia are most similar to plants of the parentcultivar Margarete; however plants of the new Begonia differ from plantsof the cultivar Margarete primarily in flower color as plants of thecultivar Margarete have violet-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Maren Top’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers and leaves of ‘Maren Top’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Gönnebek, Germany, under commercial practice during the summerin a glass-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants, drytemperatures were about 20° C., night temperatures were about 19° C.,and light levels were about 3,000 kilolux. After planting rootedcuttings into 12-cm containers, one week of long nyctoperiods of 16hours was given followed by short nyctoperiods of eight hours untilflowering. Plants were about three months old when the photographs anddescription were taken. Measurements and numerical values representaverages for typical flowering plants.

Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Maren Top.

Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Begonia×hiemaliscultivar Margarete, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—Cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 21 days at temperatures of 20° C.

Time to develop roots.—About 35 days at temperatures of 20° C.

Root description.—Fibrous, well-branched, dense. Plants of the newBegonia have not been observed to form tubers.

Plant description:

Plant form.—Compact, upright and rounded plant habit; mounded invertedtriangle; freely branching with good stem and stem base strength.Flowers are double and abundant.

Growth habit.—Moderate growth rate, vigorous. Suitable for 11 to 15-cmcontainers. Vegetative shoots are formed as basal nodes and floweringshoots are formed at upper nodes.

Plant height.—About 23 to 27 cm.

Plant width.—About 28 cm.

Leaves.—Arrangement: Simple, alternate. Developing leaves, length: About8 to 10 cm. Developing leaves, width: About 6 to 8 cm. Fully expandedleaves, length: About 18 to 20 cm. Fully expanded leaves, width: About11 to 14 cm. Shape: Asymmetrical, more or less reniform. Apex:Acuminate. Base: Cordate. Margin: Doubly serrate. Texture: Glabrous.Venation pattern: Palmate. Color: Developing and fully expanded leaves,upper surface: 147A. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lowersurface: 148C overlain with 182B. Venation, upper and lower surfaces:146C. Petiole length: About 2.5 to 6 cm. Petiole texture, upper andlower surfaces: Pubescent. Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces:146C.

Flower description:

Flowering habit.—Double flowers with numerous tepals arranged inaxillary cymes. Usually four to eight flowers per cyme. Many cymes inflower simultaneously. Flowers positioned above and beyond the foliage.

Natural flowering season.—Plants will flower year around regardless ofnyctoperiod, however plants flower earlier and more abundantly frommid-February until November in the Northern Hemisphere. Floweringcontinuous.

Postproduction longevity.—Plants will maintain good flower and leafsubstance for about 90 days in an interior environment.

Flowers.—Shape: Rounded. Diameter: About 5.5 to 7 cm. Depth (height):About 2 cm.

Flower buds.—Length: About 1.3 to 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 1 to 1.3 cm.Color: 51C.

Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Quantity per flower: Usually about 25 perflower. Shape: Broadly flabellate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Mostly entireto slightly crenate. Size, outer tepals: Length: About 3 to 3.3 cm.Width: About 2.7 to 3.3 cm. Size, inner tepals: Length: About 1.2 to 1.5cm. Width: About 1.1 to 1.3 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous; satiny.Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: 14C. Fully opened, uppersurface: 55C. Fully opened, lower surface: 55D.

Flower bracts.—Arrangement: Two, opposite. Shape: Cordate. Apex: Acute.Margin: Slightly serrate. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper andlower surfaces: 144B.

Peduncles.—Angle: Erect. Length: About 5 to 6.5 cm. Texture: Slightlypubescent. Color: 146D.

Pedicels.—Angle: Slightly bent. Length: About 1.5 to 2.5 cm. Texture:Glabrous. Color: Close to 145C.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None observed.

Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed asreproductive organs are not formed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Begonia have not beenobserved to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Begonias.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed totolerate temperatures from 14 to 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named‘Maren Top’, as illustrated and described.